Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment have released a new Batman: Arkham City trailer showcasing content from the upcoming Nightwing Bundle Pack, which will be available beginning November 1 on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and PlaySation® Network.

Featuring the intense melee skills of Nightwing, a.k.a Dick Grayson, the trailer showcases the character’s punishing arsenal of fighting moves that can be used against Arkham City’s hardened thugs. Nightwing comes complete with his own unique gadgets and special moves, and is playable in all challenge maps in the game, as well as two additional challenge maps that are included with the pack: Wayne Manor and Main Hall. The pack also contains a bonus Animated Series Nightwing character skin.

The Nightwing Bundle Pack will be available November 1 on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 560 Microsoft Points and PlayStation®Network for $6.99. The Robin Bundle Pack will also become available on November 22 to all owners of the game for the same price.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY WEEK ONE SALES TOP 4.6 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDECritically Acclaimed Sequel From Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios Becomes the Highest Reviewed Videogame of 2011 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 systemBURBANK, Calif. – October 25, 2011 –Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Batman: Arkham City™, the critically acclaimed videogame developed by Rocksteady Studios, has shipped more than 4.6 million units worldwide since its October 18 North American launch on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The week one sales figure for Batman: Arkham City is more than double the number of units sold of Batman: Arkham Asylum in the same time period and solidifies the game’s place as a contender for one of the top-selling titles of 2011. Additionally, the game currently stands as the highest reviewed PS3™ and Xbox 360 game of 2011 on Metacritic.com with average scores of 96 and 95 respectivly.*

“Batman: Arkham City is one of the best action adventure games, proven by the tremendous reviews, and it further establishes the Batman brand as a marquee franchise for our growing business,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Rocksteady Studios went above and beyond in delivering an incredible game and the support of the entire team at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment drove the excellent campaign a game like this deserves.”

"The true test for any game is what the players think and we have been thrilled by their reaction to Batman: Arkham City,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios. “The team at Rocksteady put every ounce of effort into making the best Batman experience we possibly could, so we are overwhelmed by the incredible feedback from the community.”

Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players flying through the expansive Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City.

Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. The game is currently available on Xbox 360 and PS3™. The Games for Windows version will be available beginning Nov. 15, 2011. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com for more information about the game.*Compiled by Metacritic.com, one of the web’s best resources for critical information about film, video, games, books and television.# # #

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Rocksteady Studios is a multi-award winning videogame developer based in London, England. Located in a spacious, purpose built converted factory, with full motion capture and audio studio capabilities, Rocksteady is an energetic company formed by a core team of senior industry professionals. This creates an ideal balance of drive, talent, proven methods, experience and cutting edge technology to make AAA games. Now employing over 90 people, Rocksteady's mission is to be a highly professional, efficient company whose purpose is to make great games, and have happy and healthy team members. This philosophy is the heart and soul of the company. Rocksteady received the coveted ‘studio of the year’ award at the 2009 VGA awards.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Warner Home Video has released the official trailer for Justice
League: Doom, an all-new entry in the popular series of DC Universe
Animated Original Movies due in early 2012 on Blu-ray, DVD, OnDemand
and for Download. Below you will find links to the trailer.

Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green
Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a
team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s
“contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The
story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.”

Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Tim Daly
(Private Practice), the reigning voices of Green Lantern and Superman,
respectively, join a group of eight actors reprising their famed
cartoon roles, including Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as
Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) as Flash, Susan
Eisenberg (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) as Wonder Woman and Carl
Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Also returning to
their Justice League animated series roles are the villainous voices
of Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld) as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo
(The Wonder Years) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (Angel) as
Mirror Master. David Kaufman (Danny Phantom) also reprises his Justice
League role of Jimmy Olsen.

The film is executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One), and
directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One), who is also credited
as producer alongside Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series).
Justice League: Doom is the final script from the late Dwayne McDuffie
(All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths). Casting and
dialogue direction is once again in the capable hands of Andrea Romano
(Batman: Year One, SpongeBob SquarePants).

Monday, October 17, 2011

BATMAN #5
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO • Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
1:200 B&W variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
Deep beneath Gotham City lies the Court of Owls’ deadliest trap – and Batman has fallen right into it! Can he escape, or will he perish in a maze of nightmare? Enter the labyrinth, Batman – if you dare!
This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of the issue.

DETECTIVE COMICS #5
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
1:25 Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
There’s been a seriers of assassinations in the criminal underworld – and The Penguin is among Batman’s first suspects! But when seemingly ordinary women become part of the killings, Batman discovers a common denominator that leads him on the trail of a vicious killer who is spiraling down a path of destruction. Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend, investigative reporter Charlotte Rivers, ends up on the killer’s hit list. And with her missing, can Batman uncover the layers of lies and deception within the underworld in time to save her?

(Not final cover)

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #5
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
When a madman attacks Batman with a new and powerful fear toxin, The Dark Knight visits the coldest and most distant part of his soul. And as his deepest fears resurface, he must rely on old friends to help quell the terrible effects, and to remind him of his true mission as a hero. But what Batman discovers hidden in a moment of courage may change his life forever… for a dark figure from his past has returned – the one adversary The Dark Knight truly fears.

BATWING #5
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art by BEN OLIVER
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The mystery of the Kingdom, Africa’s first and last Super Hero team, continues. When their former headquarters is opened to the public, its American benefactor, Bruce Wayne, is on hand. Will the villainous Massacre, who’s been murdering the lost heroes, stop by for the grand opening? If he does, it will be up to Batman and Batwing to stop him. It’s a battle of the bats!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
There’s a devil on Robin’s shoulder – and his name is Nobody! Batman and Robin’s relationship gets pushed to the breaking point as Nobody insinuates himself into Damian’s life and tries to make him see that Bruce’s plan to battle crime is hopeless – and only by teaming up and tapping into Damian’s killer instinct can they ever hope to rid Gotham City of its evil roots.

BIRDS OF PREY #5
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by JESUS SAIZ and JAVIER PINA
Cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
After [REDACTED] in issue #4, the team agrees to take 24 hours to take stock of what just happened. But there’s no such thing as R&R for the Birds of Prey, as Black Canary realizes that Gotham City is still in grave danger. And the key to unmasking the villain known as “Choke” may lie in the mystery of a man who one day just walked out on his family and life…and into a world of mind-control and murder.

BATWOMAN #5
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:25 Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Hydrology,” the first arc of the critically acclaimed new BATWOMAN series, reaches its powerful conclusion! After the horrors Batwoman has faced, she has a final showdown with The Weeping Woman – a specter with the power to dredge up Kate’s deepest pain. Can she finally forgive herself so she can dispel this evil? And how will she respond when Chase and the DEO tighten their grip, forcing Kate to make an impossible decision?

BATGIRL #5
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Still reeling from the shocking return of a major figure with secrets from her past, Batgirl goes on the hunt for the terrifying killer Gretel, whose eerie and violent power over the men of Gotham City leaves no one safe – not even guest star Bruce Wayne!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #5
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With Jason going one-on-one with the ancient evil known as the Untitled and Koriand’r barely able to crawl to his side, it’s up to Roy to stand alone against the monstrous threat known as Crux!

CATWOMAN #5
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Catwoman is flying solo and finding plenty of turbulence! She has her paws full when a simple smash and grab turns into a hit and pummeled, as she faces an adversary who is more than a match for Selina. She calls herself Reach, and she doesn’t pull any punches. Can our favorite Feline Fatale land on her feet?

NIGHTWING #5
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by EDDY BARROWS and PAULO SIQUERIA
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With winter closing in, Haly’s Circus hits New Orleans! But as Dick Grayson gets closer in his search for answers about the mystery of the circus, it’s not just the temperature that heats up. And just how does a voodoo ritual gone bad factor in? Find out as Nightwing takes the Big Easy!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Batman: Arkham City will be available nationwide Tuesday, October 18, and to help prepare you for the intense melee combat, sprawling cityscape and dangerous encounters in Arkham City, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment are presenting a new Batman: Arkham City trailer featuring some of Gotham’s greatest villains. Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange, Two-Face, Penguin and The Joker are just some of the adversaries who are out to stop the Dark Knight in this hotly-anticipated release. Batman: Arkham City is rated “T” for Teen and will be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced the Nightwing Bundle Pack for Batman: Arkham City will be available November 1. Nightwing comes complete with his own unique gadgets and special moves, and is playable in all challenge maps in the game, as well as two additional challenge maps that are included with the pack: Wayne Manor and Main Hall. The pack also contains a bonus Animated Series Nightwing character skin.

The Robin Bundle Pack is scheduled for availability on November 22 to all owners of the game.

Both download content bundles will be offered on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 560 Microsoft Points and PlayStation®Network for $6.99.

Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game.

Synopsis: When Gotham City is in desperate need of heroes, two men take a stand for justice... but on opposite sides. Bruce Wayne returns home after years abroad to become a crimefighter, just as honest cop Lt. James Gordon moves to Gotham and finds corruption at every level. When Bruce becomes the masked vigilante Batman, the city explodes as his new nemesis Catwoman, the mob and Gordon all close in! Don't miss this thrilling DC Universe Animated Original Movie based on the groundbreaking story by Frank Miller and featuring three-time Emmy(R) Award-winner Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Katee Sackhoff, Eliza Dushku and Alex Rocco in its stellar voice cast. Experience a bold and dynamic vision of the Dark Knight's first year in action and the start of his enduring friends with Jim Gordon.

Review: Batman: Year One begins much like the comic books of the same name and moves along at about the same pace. We get to see Bruce come back to Gotham and Gordon move to the city and deal with the corrupt police force. All I can say is that Gordon is a bad mother. He throws a good beatin' to Det. Flass in this film. We get to see some cool character moments...like where Selina decides that she's into Bruce/Batman..its subtle, but watch for it. This is the Batman we all love..he's absolutely fantastic. Bruce does a great job of throwing off Gordon with his Charlie Sheen act.

The film is well-animated, well-acted and an absolute blast.

We get to see Selina and Holly in the film pretty early on..the same design as we see in the Catwoman animated short, so thats a nice tie-in.

The Catwoman animated short starts out simply enough with a cat being chased down by some thugs and rescued by Catwoman. From there, she goes on to investigate why they were afte the kitty and winds up at a strip club, where some of the best music that I've heard on a soundtrack in a long time kicks in and it really helps amp the mood for that scene, which is very...PG 13. This one has action, car chases, sexuality and adventure. You won't believe what the bad guys are smuggling in the end! This is a perfect Catwoman tale. I really enjoy that Batman never got involved and they let Selina stand on her own two feet.

All I can say..I wish this was a full length feature..or even a regular series. Not shocking, since it was written by Paul Dini.

I haven't enjoyed all of the DC Universe features, but this one is it. This is what you've been waiting for. Its absolutely amazing.

The special features include: "Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots", "Conversations with DC Comics", New DC Showcase Animated Short "Catwoman" and some bonus episodes.

Friday, October 07, 2011

About the product: Learn to read with Phonics Fun. 12-book program. Simple stories full of exciting Super Hero action. Builds a foundation for a lifetime of reading fun.

Our Take: We love Batman books of all kinds. I don't care if its a novel or a coloring book..I MUST have it. Its a sick, sick compulsion. This latest book set offers 12 mini-storybooks in a great cardboard box holder. The books are from the Batman Classic series. The stories are great and the artwork is very modern. This is a great collectible for any fan and also great for the little ones to read through.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

The all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives October 18, 2011 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD, On Demand and for Download.

There is also an opportunity to download-for-purchase in an early window starting October 11 through iTunes, Xbox Live, Zune, VUDU HD Movies and Video Unlimited on the PlayStation Network & Sony Entertainment Network.

Warner Home Video will present a DC Universe Animated Original Movie panel at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 14. Among those participating are executive producer Bruce Timm, dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano and the perennial choice of Batman, Kevin Conroy. The panel, slated for 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the IGN, will feature the premiere of both the Paul Dini-scripted Catwoman animated short and the trailer for Justice League: Doom, as well as discussion of those two projects and Batman: Year One.

Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC Comics titles from 12-time Eisner Award winner Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli. The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Sam Register, head of Cartoon Network, recently gave a speech at the MIP Junior Market Con in Cannes where he revealed that the new Batman cartoon will be titled "Beware the Batman" and see a 2013 release. Bats will team with a young female sidekick named Katana and a gun-toting Alfred Pennyworth to take on villains like the Joker, Penguin and Professor Pygh. "We went in deeper into the villain library and pulled out some other villains. We didn’t want to do another Joker story... there’s too many of them. We just needed to do something new, so we’re starting off with new villains". CBM came across the above preview artwork, so we can see the direction the show is going. Your thoughts?

Sam Register has revealed that Aardman Animation is creating a new series of claymation Batman shorts for the upcoming DC Nation block on Cartoon Network. They are also producing a series of animated shorts teaming Wonder Girl, Batgirl and Supergirl called Super Best Friends Forever.

Monday, October 03, 2011

Today we're taking a look at the Funko Batman computer sitter and bobble breeze. Check out the high-res pics below.

Funko has been putting out some really nice product and these two are no exception. I haven't seen them around in stores much, but you can find them online vary easily. The computer sitter is a great sculpt of the classic blue and gray Bats in a crouching position. He looks fantastic and is a great accessory for your PC.

The Bobble breeze is great for bobblehead collectors. He looks great also and is sporting the old blue and grays. These two are fantastic little pieces for any collection.